Auto driver held for ex-cop assault

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The auto driver, who allegedly assaulted a former police officer protesting his reckless driving on a Chetla road on Sunday, was arrested near Ballygunge station on Wednesday. His three-wheeler, concealed near his hideout, was also impounded.

“We took three days to track down Krishno Saha (the auto driver) because the complainant gave us the wrong registration number. We will produce him before Alipore court on Thursday,” said an officer of Chetla police station.

Cops booked 55-year-old Saha, a resident of Mahestala, on the charge of reckless driving and causing hurt with dangerous weapon.

Prabir Baran Sarkar, who retired as officer-in-charge of the wireless department, was attacked while he was going to a relative’s house in Dhakuria in a taxi with his wife. He protested when he saw two autos racing dangerously towards Durgapur bridge. Once one of the drivers started beating him up, four to five other drivers joined him.

Sarkar alleged that he dialled 100, a 24x7 helpline, thrice but failed to get through. Joint commissioner (headquarters) Jawed Shamim said the calls could not be completed because of technical problems.

On Monday, transport minister Madan Mitra spoke to Sarkar and assured him that the driver who led the assault would soon be put behind bars. The minister also asked the police to arrest the driver within the day.

“We found that none of the autos on the Rashbehari-Chetla route had the registration number Sarkar had provided. Then we started looking at all the autos,” said an officer of Chetla police station.

Officers of the traffic department were also engaged to trace the driver.